ROSS TOLD ME I NEED A NEW MOTOR IN MY 2002 HONDA CIVIC BUT I AM ABSOLUTELY 100% CONVINCED THAT MY CAR WAS NEVER EVEN LOOKED AT.
I stopped by City Auto Works 3 weeks ago and talked to Ross. I told to him that I had been to three other area mechanics trying to determine an overheating issue in my 2002 Honda Civic. The three previous mechanics had replaced various parts (2 thermostats, 2 water pumps, a cooling sensor, and fan switch) and each of them told me three different things as to what was wrong with my car (nothing, radiator, head gasket).
Ross said they were Honda specialists and based on my explanation that it sounds like the head gasket (the car will not get hot if I drive the car around town, but as soon as I get it to speeds over 70, the car will overheat when I get off of the highway, or come to a stop) . I told him I would be back.
On Wednesday, I stopped back in to talk with Ross and asked if he could look at my car Thursday or Friday. He said to bring it in Thursday morning. I requested a head gasket pressure test be done since a previous chemical test was 'inconclusive'. I also told him that since I had last stopped by several weeks ago, the car had not overheated at all. He said he would run some tests and let me know a couple options.
I decided to go up to the shop at 5:30. I found it very strange that no one had called me, but willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. When I got there, three of the guys who work in the shop outside. I told them I drove the Honda Civic and that no one had contacted regarding the status. No one knew what I was talking about and asked what I brought it in for. They called Ross, who was on his way back to the shop. Then, all three of them walked over to my car (suspiciously parked in the exact same place) and popped the hood. I was under the impression that they had not gotten to my car that day, which wouldn't have been a big deal since I have another car. When Ross returned he told me that the coolant was low and there was no leak (which I already knew) that it must be exiting through the tailpipe and recommended that I PUT A WHOLE NEW MOTOR IN. Dumbfounded, I asked him why no one had called me about my car. He said he has been off of the premises for the last 4 hours helping someone else (terrible excuse). I asked him why none of the guys knew anything and he said because HE looked at it. Ross didn't seem to look like he had touched a car or even been outside in the heat. When I asked him about the head gasket test he said that there really is no definitive test to determine if I had a blown head gasket, but didn't say whether he conducted the test I requested. My frustration was building. I asked him if he drove my car. He said he drove it around town and it didn't get hot, after I SPECIFICALLY told him that the car can drive around town all day long but it needed to get up to high speeds to overheat. I told him that none of this was making sense and that I didn't understand how my car had not acted up for weeks and now he is telling me to put in a new motor. HE THEN PROCEEDED TO YELL AT ME, 'LOOK, DO YOU WANT MY HELP OR NOT! IF YOU WOULD BE QUIET FOR A SECOND I WOULD EXPLAIN TO YOU WHAT'S GOING ON."" I calmly told him that he and I could go inside and I would give him the $82 I owed him for looking at my car and the guys could close the hood because I was going to take my car elsewhere. HE THEN SCREAMED, 'YOU KNOW WHAT, I DON'T WANT YOUR MONEY. GET OUT OF HERE AND DON'T COME BACK'. Then he stormed inside. One of the guys came over to me and apologized for his behavior and the others looked truly embarrassed. Then when I got in my car I noticed that there was no paper floor mat and the radio was blasting on the same channel as when I dropped it off. In my many experiences, the mechanic ALWAYS turns the radio off. I am truly convinced that this guy told me I need a new engine based on the information I had already provided him.
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